Small business will be exempt from unfair dismissal laws and redundancy payments and find it easier to use individual workplace agreements if the re-elected Howard Government proceeds with its industrial relations reforms.
Small business will be exempt from unfair dismissal laws and redundancy payments and find it easier to use individual workplace agreements if the re-elected Howard Government proceeds with its industrial relations reforms.
Government ministers have made it clear in recent days that industrial relations is at the top of its policy agenda.
Speaking on radio this week, Treasurer Peter Costello said exempting small business from unfair dismissal laws was the number one priority.
“We have tried on 41 occasions to change the unfair dismissal laws to make it easier for small business,” he said.
“So if we could get those changes through the Senate, that would be an absolute priority.”
Passage of the unfair dismissals bill through the Senate has become a real prospect after the Coalition parties increased the number of seats they hold, though the final composition of the Senate is not finalised.
The Government has eight other industrial relations bills before the Senate, which among other things simplify approvals for Australian Workplace Agreements (ie individual agreements), extend the term of enterprise agreements from three to five years, and allow third parties to apply to the industrial relations commission to have industrial action suspended if they are adversely affected.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA chief executive John Langoulant said he supported more use of individual agreements.
“It provides for choice and flexibility in the employment arrangement and it allows employers and employees to negotiate in the best interests of the enterprise,” Mr Langoulant said.
UnionsWA secretary Stephanie Mayman believes the Government is pursuing an ideological agenda that will effectively take away the right of workers to join unions.
She said many workers had effectively been forced to sign AWAs.
“The effect has been deunionisation, without a doubt,” Ms Mayman said. “The use of the word choice is an absolute furphy.”
As well as industrial relations, another priority for the Government is tackling the shortage of skilled labour.
“We will immediately set about … to tackle the chronic skills shortage in this country,” Prime Minister John Howard told the national press club on the eve of the election.
Key measures include establishing 24 technical colleges, including one in Perth and one in the Pilbara, and providing extra financial support for apprentices.
The new colleges will provide tuition for up to 7,200 students in years 11 and 12, effectively competing with the State-based TAFE colleges.
Mr Langoulant said he was keen to see the Federal Government embrace further micro-economic reform.
“It’s an area we are quite concerned about,” he said.
Mr Langoulant believes the best outcomes would be achieved if the Federal and State governments were able to work cooperatively.
IR Reforms
- Exempt small business from unfair dismissal laws.
- Keep contractors out of IR system.
- Exempt small business from redundancy payments.
- Extend enterprise agreements to five years.
- Simplify approvals for individual workplace agreements.
- Harmonise Federal-State IR systems.
